Quit Percocet
Recovering from a Percocet addiction is possible with the combination of medications, support, and behavioral therapies.
Percocet Addiction
Addiction to prescription opioids such as Percocet is a tremendous problem in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2018, 10.3 million people misused prescription opioids such as Percocet. Additionally, in 2018, 2 million people misused prescription opioids for the first time and 2 million people had an opioid use disorder.
Percocet is the brand name for a prescription painkiller medication that is a combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen. It is used to relieve severe pain. The main ingredient acetaminophen is used to relieve pain and reduce fevers. This ingredient is not addictive when taken over long periods of time. However, it can cause other negative effects such as liver damage if taken in large doses.
The other main ingredient oxycodone belongs to a family of drugs known as opioids. It acts on the central nervous system to relieve pain. Opioids like Percocet activate the brain’s reward center making people become addicted to the way the drug makes them feel. When taken for long periods of time oxycodone can become addictive leading to mental or physical dependence. If a person has become physically dependent on the medication, they will experience withdrawal side effects when they abruptly try to stop treatment.
Percocet Symptoms
If a person has developed a Percocet addiction they may experience uncontrollable cravings, drowsiness, changes in their sleep patterns, weight loss, and flu-like symptoms. They can also experience behavioral symptoms such as an inability to control their drug use, decrease in their hygiene, changes in exercise habits, isolation from family and friends, stealing from friends, family, school, or businesses, and new financial difficulties. Opioid abuse such as Percocet can result in a series of health risks. The health risks of the main ingredient acetaminophen, if taken in large quantities, are abdominal pain, appetite loss, coma, seizures, diarrhea, irritability, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and sweating. Taking too much acetaminophen can result in liver damage, liver failure, or even death. The health risks of the main ingredient oxycodone include drowsiness, agitation, hallucinations, chest pain, mental fog, constipation, nausea, dizziness, seizures, heart failure, breathing irregularity, respiratory depression, low blood pressure, cardiac arrest, and even overdose. Symptoms of an overdose are difficulty breathing, slowed or stopped breathing, excessive sleepiness, limp or weak muscles, narrowing or widening of the pupils, cold and clammy skin, and loss of consciousness or coma. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over 130 people died from an opioid-related drug overdose every day in 2018 and 47,600 people died from overdosing on opioids.
Percocet Health Risks
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How to Quit Percocet On Your Own
Quitting Percocet on your own is possible for someone who is highly motivated and has a good support system. According to the Mayo Clinic, the best way to quit Percocet is through a slow taper. One of the reasons Percocet is so addicting is because of its main ingredient oxycodone. Oxycodone is an opioid and when deciding to come off an opioid the best way to do this is through a slow taper.
Slow Taper
Do not try to quit cold turkey. This can result in painful withdrawal symptoms which can be severe. Talk to your doctor about developing a taper plan that will gradually reduce the amount of medication you take. The taper may take weeks or even months to gradually and safely reduce your dose and get you off your medication. Tapering can help reduce or even eliminate your withdrawal signs and symptoms. Signs and symptoms of withdrawal from Percocet to watch out for are a runny nose, watery eyes, restlessness or anxiety, increased pain, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, tremors, blood pressure changes, trouble sleeping, and thoughts of suicide.
Social Support
Quitting Percocet is not easy. Friends, family, doctors, counselors, or therapists can be great forms of support to help keep you on track to your road to recovery. Additionally, finding local support groups can be another great form of support for a person suffering from a Percocet addiction. Narcotics Anonymous is a support group for people who are addicted to opioid painkillers that uses a 12 step approach. This enables an individual to feel supported by being surrounded by people who are going through a similar difficult circumstance. You can also talk with your religious or spiritual advisor for support.
Additional Tips
A few additional tips that may be helpful in overcoming your Percocet addiction are to drink more water or other liquids than usual to help flush the drugs out of your system. Make sure you are eating frequent, nutritious meals to keep your body energized. You can even try yoga as a way to do deep-breathing and stretching exercises to help you relax. Walking is another great exercise to help you relax and get your mind off your detox journey. Using distractions such as exercising, listening to music, reading a book, talking to someone, or doing a hobby are great ways to help keep you focused on your goal. Also, positive self-talk can help set your mind right. Tell yourself things like, pain is temporary and I can do this! How to stop using Percocet? The best way to overcome a Percocet addiction is by going to a rehab facility and enrolling in either an outpatient or inpatient program. Going to a rehab facility greatly increases a person’s chances of overcoming their addiction because they provide support along with a combination of medications and behavioral therapies. They will also ensure that your slow taper off Percocet is done correctly and in a safe way that maximizes your chances of overcoming your addiction. Medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone are all effective treatments for opioid use disorders. Methadone is used to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and address cravings. Buprenorphine is used to relieve opioid cravings without giving the same high as other drugs do. Both these methadone and buprenorphine activate opioid receptors in the body to suppress cravings in a safe and effective way. They enable your brain to heal while you work towards recovery. Naltrexone is used after a person has detoxed from opioids to help prevent relapse. It does not turn on a person’s opioid receptors, so it takes away the euphoric and sedative effects that you would normally get when you take opioids. It is also used to treat an opioid overdose. Behavioral therapies are used to help people modify their attitudes and behaviors surrounding drug use, increase healthy life skills, stick with other forms of treatment such as medications, and learning coping techniques to help people learn how to manage stress in a positive way. A couple of behavioral therapies that are often used in the treatment of a Percocet addiction are cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational therapy, and contingency management. Cognitive-behavioral therapy attempts to alter a person’s negative thoughts and behaviors associated with drug use and identify situations that cause a person to use Percocet. It also teaches a person to manage stress and coping skills. Motivational enhancement therapy helps a person increase their motivation to stick with treatment. Sometimes, family members are encouraged to come to therapy to help the addicted individual feel supported in overcoming their addiction. Contingency management rewards a person for not using Percocet. For example, a person who passes a urine drug test will be rewarded with a token that can be used to purchase items that encourage a healthy lifestyle, such as movie tickets.
How to Quit Percocet in Rehab
Medications
Behavioral Therapy
How Hard Is It To Quit Percocet
Quitting Percocet on your own can be extremely difficult. The pain from withdrawal, lack of family and friend support, and cravings can make it feel impossible to quit. However, overcoming a Percocet addiction is possible. With the proper medications, support, and behavioral therapy quitting Percocet is an attainable goal. As difficult as it may seem at the time, finding the right support from doctors, friends, family, and therapists can make the road to recovery achievable.
If you or someone you love is addicted to Percocet, finding a high-quality rehab clinic can help. Rehab clinics will provide a person with all the support they need to overcome their addiction. Through trained medical and mental health professionals your loved one will be safe and comfortable as they detox from Percocet and begin their recovery journey.
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Medical disclaimer:
Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery.
Licensed medical professionals review material we publish on our site. The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals.
